The hood can be cleaned using ordinary home remedies: soda, vinegar, ammonia, laundry soap or lemon. If it has not been washed for a long time, then these methods will most likely no longer help; more radical measures and the use of household chemicals will be needed. Regular Fairy will also do, but housewives recommend in these cases special products for hoods, ovens, and cookers: Green&Clean Professional, Isesclean, AmWay, Sano Forte Plus, Topperr. As a last resort, use the Mole. A clean exhaust hood is the key to clean air in the house. Therefore, it is important to keep it in order.
Preparation
The hood should be cleaned after disassembling it into its component parts. Before doing this, you need to read the instructions for the device. Then turn off the hood from the electrical network and proceed sequentially:
- Open the case by unlocking the latches.
- Remove the filter.
- Remove the exhaust pipe. It is important to pay attention to what it is made of. Not every material can be washed. Information about this can be found in the instructions for the hood.
- Then wash each part, along with the body itself, in the bathroom, first soaking it in a solution with detergent.
Don't forget that the surface of the hood also needs to be cleaned. The washing solution is prepared in a ratio of 1:4, where water accounts for four parts, and a cleaning agent, for example Fairy, accounts for 1. A regular sponge is used for cleaning. Afterwards, all structural elements are wiped dry.
Folk remedies for washing mesh and hood parts
The choice of product in this case is dictated by the degree of contamination of the hood. Folk tricks are suitable for cleaning light stains, plaque, and dirt. The best helpers: soda, vinegar, soap, citric acid, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, silicate glue.
Soda
Common household stains can be removed using several methods. Baking soda solution is the cheapest and most harmless for both humans and machines. Good for cleaning mesh. Step-by-step instruction:
- Prepare a container that matches the size of the mesh.
- A soda solution is poured into it: half a large spoon of soda per 3 liters of water.
- Then they begin processing the mesh on each side in turn.
If the water is heavily contaminated, you can boil it. The whole procedure takes no more than half an hour.
Ammonia
If there are stains or traces of dirt, take ammonia (half a large spoon per 3.5 liters of hot water). Ammonia has a strong smell and irritates the upper respiratory tract, so it is better to wear a mask and ensure good ventilation of the apartment. This is especially true in panel and apartment buildings. The mesh must remain in the solution for at least 90 minutes. After this, it is washed with a stream of running water and dried with a towel.
Soap
The solution is prepared at the rate of half a laundry soap per bowl of hot water. Small parts of the hood can be boiled in this solution. The mesh is rubbed with the mixture and manually cleaned from dirt and grease.
Vinegar
One of the most effective home methods. It is important that the vinegar is undiluted. Then the light dirt melts before our eyes. It is worth considering that vinegar has a pungent odor and causes irritation to the nasopharynx and eyes. Excellent ventilation is needed. The processing technique is simple. A sponge soaked in the product is used to treat all elements one by one. Wait 10-15 minutes, and then wash the filter and other parts in water and dry with a napkin.
Lemon
Fruit juice works no worse than vinegar, breaking down contaminants. It is absolutely safe and can be used to treat any part of the structure. Natural juice can be successfully replaced with diluted citric acid (3 large spoons per liter of water).
Combined remedy
Recipe:
- 5 liters of water;
- half a piece of laundry soap;
- 1/2 bottle of hydrogen peroxide,
- 1/2 jar of ammonia;
- 5 tbsp. l. glue;
- 2 tbsp. l. soda;
- 2 tbsp. l. salt;
- lemon juice;
- 1/2 tbsp. l. vinegar and ethyl alcohol.
Mix all ingredients and place a wire rack into the mixture. Wait at least 3 hours and the grate will be as good as new. Since fat, when dissolved, gives off an unpleasant aroma, the entire procedure must be done with an open window and in a room with tightly closed doors.
How to clean the hood grille with a grease remover (for difficult cases)
Another radical method of cleaning the hood is with a grease remover or oven cleaner. For example, it could be Bugi Shumanit, Bugi Giant, Sparkling Cauldron, Oven Cleaner from Amway and others. Don't forget to open the window and use rubber gloves!
Instructions:
- Treat the hood filter with the product.
- Place the grille in a bag (!) to prevent the pungent odor from spreading throughout the apartment.
- After 10-15 minutes, wash the mesh as usual and rinse thoroughly.
Advice:
- If you have children or pets, it is better to use Amway oven cleaner, as it has almost no odor and works more efficiently than its analogues. True, it is sold only through brand dealers or in the company’s online store.
See also: How to clean a gas stove in 8 steps
Household chemicals for cleaning hoods
Professional products are used for old stains. If the hood has not been treated for more than six months, home methods cannot cope with the problem. The following products are needed: Fairy, Shumanit, Green&Clean Professional, AmWay, Sano Forte Plus, Topperr, Mister Muscle, Silit Banks, Mole. They certainly have their advantages: they are narrowly targeted (they act on a specific type of pollution), require virtually no effort, and are used economically. But at the same time, these solutions can be aggressive towards metal and other materials from which the hood is made.
When using them, you need to wear gloves on your hands. You will also need sponges, rags, and a towel.
The method of processing components does not require more than 10 minutes and consists of soaking the hood parts in professionally prepared solutions. If there are no contraindications in the instructions, you can wash the grill and accessories in the dishwasher.
The mole cleaning method is considered the most radical. It can be used a maximum of a couple of times during the entire service life of the hood. It involves immersing the parts in Mole's solution (be sure to wear gloves while doing this). The reaction begins immediately. After treatment, you need to rinse the hood parts under running water for a long time. The alkali contained in the product should not remain on the components; it “eats” the metal.
How to clean the grease filter
The mesh must be cleaned regularly. If you have a large family and you cook a lot often, once a week you need to remove it and clean it of fat. If you cook infrequently, and fry even less often, then 1-2 times a month will be enough.
Dishwasher
The easiest way is to place it in the dishwasher. But it is only suitable for those who monitor the cleanliness of the filter at least twice a month. The dishwasher will not cope with the old adhering layer of fat.
- The machine must be turned on for the maximum time.
- Set the temperature to 60 degrees.
Dishwashing detergents
Regular dishwashing liquid, which is found in every home, can remove unhardened grease.
Procedure:
- put the filter in a container, for example, a basin, bucket, deep baking tray;
- apply detergent;
- pour hot water and leave for 30 minutes;
- clean with a sponge or brush;
- rinse with clean water.
If you can't clean it the first time, you can repeat it. If you don’t like the result after the second time, it makes sense to move on to more serious methods.
Special products for cleaning hoods and ovens
Stores sell special products for cleaning ovens and hoods - gels, sprays, creams. For example, shumanit, Sanita, Anti-Fat from Cinderella. They are easy to use:
- place the filter in a container;
- apply the product evenly;
- leave for the time specified in the instructions;
- remove softened dirt with a sponge;
- rinse under running water.
And although cleaning in this case does not require much time and effort, many housewives refuse them. The price is scary. For example, shumanit can be bought for 1,100 rubles. But the main argument of opponents is that these products belong to aggressive chemicals. Great care must be taken when using them: use protective gloves and a mask, ensure that the product does not come into contact with the skin, and thoroughly ventilate the room.
Those who prefer not to use chemicals in the kitchen can choose traditional methods. But do not forget that without chemicals you can clean only light and medium stains. They are not effective in the fight against old fat that has turned into a sticky mass.
Let's consider how to wash the exhaust device without resorting to radical measures.
Methods for cleaning various parts of the hood
A kitchen hood has the following components: an air duct, a mesh, in some cases a filter, a motor, a fan, a case and a button panel. Washing only the body with buttons is ineffective. It is necessary to completely clean the hood at least once a quarter in order for it to serve effectively and for a long time.
Filter
There are two models for operating the hood: using a filter (preferably) and without it (in this case, the air duct can become very dirty and require complete replacement over time). If you use a filter, it should be changed as it wears out. The instructions indicate the expiration date of the cartridge.
Net
The most popular solution is baking soda and salt. With this method of cleaning, you need a large container into which you need to pour the cleaning solution and put it on the fire. The mesh is placed there for 2-3 hours. If there is no such container, then you will have to boil one side first, then the other.
Such cleaning requires time and good ventilation of the room. For better results, after boiling, you can clean the mesh with a soft bristle brush. It's even better to put it in the dishwasher. Housewives have recently preferred soaking in Coca-Cola to this method. It dissolves fat without residue and requires no effort other than rinsing.
Fan and motor
The engine is the basis of normal air exchange. You need to treat it with caution and care. And most importantly - wisely. You should not touch it more than several times a year. According to the instructions, you need to determine the location of the working elements and get them. The fan and motor are always paired. They need to be separated. Then prepare the selected solution from those listed above and soak the fan blades in it for an hour. After 60 minutes, wipe off the dissolved fat with a sponge or rag, rinse under the drain and dry well.
Don't get the engine wet! It is wiped from the outside and wiped dry. If you have the slightest doubt that it is possible to carry out such cleaning yourself, you must contact the service department. The motor and fan must be dry during assembly.
Air pipe
The air duct is responsible for draft and affects the quality of air exchange in the kitchen. Its function is especially important if there is smoking there. The exhaust shaft must be changed periodically. Modern air pipes are produced in two types: plastic of various shapes and corrugated. Plastic ones are easy to clean: take them apart, soak them in a special solution, wash them, and dry them.
It’s more difficult with corrugated ones. They must be changed once a year or treated with a steam cleaner. Only after this the air duct is washed with soapy water and dried. The steam cleaner can also be used to clean the fan, grille, and motor. The corrugation is cleaned with Mole, soaking it for half an hour in the prepared solution. Sometimes the procedure requires repetition. Then the same washing and drying.
Frame
It's decor and easy to clean. The sponge is moistened in the solution selected and prepared in advance and wiped. Then remove the residue with a damp cloth and wipe dry with a towel. If laziness has led to the accumulation of fatty deposits, a general cleansing is necessary. To do this you need:
- Turn off the gas.
- Clean the housing with Schumanite or its equivalent. A combination home remedy may be used.
- Wipe with a soft sponge. Metal abrasives are excluded; they scratch the body.
- Dry.
Buttons and inner walls
Special sprays are produced for their surfaces, but they can also be replaced with traditional solutions. The idea is to spray the buttons on the panel and wipe them dry with a clean cloth. Internal surfaces are treated with a combination of products: from grease and dirt, from odor and soot. Glass inserts must be cleaned in the same way.
Common Mistakes
What NOT to do if you clean the hood yourself:
- Turn on the device immediately after washing if you cleaned the inside of the housing. The fan and motor must dry out.
- Wash the disposable filter. They only need to be replaced.
- Clean the plastic filter with steam or pour boiling water over it. High temperatures can deform plastic.
- Use stiff brushes, abrasive cleaners and steel wool to clean the exterior of the cabinet. A smooth surface can be scratched, especially if you rub hard.
- Use alkaline cleaners to clean aluminum filters.
- Use alcohol-containing detergents and solvents to clean the cabinet. After such cleaning, the surface may become dull.
About island hoods - description, installation, pros and cons
How loud is a kitchen hood, and is it possible to reduce the noise level?
Related Posts
Periodicity
If the model has a disposable mesh, then the latter simply needs to be replaced with a new one when it gets dirty. The recommended frequency of routine cleaning for all other types of hoods is once a month. General cleaning - quarterly. Following the recommendations will save your energy, time and money.
Corrugated pipes are widely used in households: on hoods, when building water supply and air conditioning systems, and insulating wiring. Moreover, they are not expensive, for example, prices for 25 mm corrugated pipes start at 19 rubles.
